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Bose 802 Series 2
Bose 802 Series 2
MSRP: $ 1955.00

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Rating
Reviewed by:

XTC

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
November 9, 2009

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Rate this review?

Review 1 of 36

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have used the 802's only when they have been supplied and could'nt for whatever reason use other speakers. If they were so great why do most Pa hire companies shy away from them? I think people who swear by them may not have heard "real" pa systems and are using the 802"s for vocals and instruments which do not require serious volume and clarity. I don't have any "beef with bose its just that there are better speakers for the same money, JBL,EV RCF etc. In short "no highs no lows thats bose"


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Rating
Reviewed by:

Dave Horne

(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
September 26, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 3.00 votes

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Review 2 of 36

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I've been using my Bose 802's for over 15 years and they always sound great. My typical use - electric piano (CP300) and a Shure SM58 mic if I'm working with a singer. I always get compliments on the sound and usually run a CD through it on breaks; I can hear for myself just how good it sounds.

I admit there was a problem years ago with the wiring of the XLR outputs. I use 1/4 inch jacks which add slightly more noise (than using XLR) but on a job you'll be hard pressed to hear a difference.

Before I bought those 802's for myself I had used them for almost 20 years in the military. (I was a musician in the military for 20 years.) We abused those speakers and they never let us down. (We would play bowling for Bose and slide them on hardwood floors to save carrying them to the stage. Of course, we did that when the officer's weren't looking.) I can recall only one time when one driver had to be replaced. They are not efficient speakers but with a powerful amp they really sound great. (I use a QSC PLX1804.)

If you are playing in a large hall (following the owner's manual from Bose), place the speakers next to each other (instead of stage left and stage right) and you'll achieve better coverage. For the longest time I would place the speakers, one on my left and one on my right. I now place them behind me and above me and angled slightly away from each other and they sound great. I should have read the owner's manual more carefully when I first bought them.

My counter to all the so-called negative press regarding Bose - how come I never (or very rarely) see any used 802's for sale? While it is tempting to buy the Series III, my Series II's have held up well for over 15 years.

I still get a kick from the design of the case. There is no need whatsoever to buy a flight case for these speakers. My speakers have been dropped a few times and there might be a scratch or nick in the plastic case, but they still look excellent.

If I had to do this all over again, I'd still buy the 802's.


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Rating
Reviewed by:

Bubbarosa

(Audio Enthusiast)

Review Date
March 18, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

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Review 3 of 36

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have been using these awesome speakers (4) for about a year now for karaoke and DJ'ing along with a pair of 502BP's. They are awesome for karaoke. The clarity and dispersion is fantastic. For music, though. even with the 2 subs the bass wont knock your eyes out of there sockets, but close. They play very very loud with absolutely no distortion. I just wish the subs had more UMPH, I am adding 2 more... then maybe I can make everybody go blind, and/or deaf. They do suck up a lot of power. I am pushing the four 802's with a Mackie FRS2600 and the 2 502 subs with only a Mackie FR1400. Maybe this is why the bass isn't as loud as I was hoping for. They do suck without the Bose Equalizer. This is NOT a "BOSE" Home entertainment system which costs about two hundred times what it is worth and is not that good, so pls do not compare it to any of those products.


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Rating
Reviewed by:
Anthony
(AudioPhile)

Review Date
June 6, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.20 of 5, 5.00 votes

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Review 4 of 36

Price Paid:  $2000.00 from Bose

Summary:
I use the Bose 802's in my church. We have four of them, the 802-w II on the walls and the 802 III hanging on the ceiling. All I can say is WOW! Dont listen to those Bose bashers because they probably dont even own the product. These things can put out alot of sound. We are using 2 mb4 subwoofers to give the system some bass. The 802's lack bass but they can get by. I would have to say that the 802-w II on the walls sound better because the cabinets are made out of wood which gives the speaker better sound. I recommend these speakers to any dj or sound operator that has the money to get these. Ive heard JBL and all of those brands and these kick the crap out of them WITH A SUBWOOFER.

Strengths:
Clear roomfilling sound

Weaknesses:
Lacks bass but if you have the extra money buy a subwoofer to make up for it.

Similar Products Used:
JBL, Yamaha


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Rating
Reviewed by:

Paul Hopfensperger

(AudioPhile)

Review Date
June 24, 2006

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.25 of 5, 16.00 votes

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Review 5 of 36

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from private sellers

Summary:
I have a band and DJ service, for over 35 years. I've played over 1500 weddings, and several hundred, picnics, festivals, and private parties. Audience size varies from 50 to 2500. I run 4 Bose 802's, 2 older series I's and 2 series II's. I also use a Bose 302 subwoofer, Bose 802 c controller and 2 power amps; an old Bose 1800, at least 20 years old, and a new crown amp, 2 years old.
i am constantly told by my customers how clear, clean and crisp the sound is. The 802's deliver clean virtual sound when bi-amped, but are muddy when run as the only speakers. Bass muddies the mids and highs, and simply not enough bass for most audiences. I have tried Yamaha, JVC and other subwoofers biamped w this system. They provide enough bass, but cannot match the punch of the Bose 302 subwoofer. I have tried Kustom, Peavey, JVC and Bag End and Yamaha speakers as main sound system.. They are masky, and not as clean and clear. In 35 years, I have never blown an 802 speaker. I melted a couple power amps though. Bose 802's are not efficient , consume much power and will truly test a mediocre amp. I have also blown out the 12" bass speakers in the Bose 302 subwoofer, but once in 25 years ain't bad. I even had an early pair of Bose 800's, not bad, but they were part of the learning curve for developing the 802's.
I've always gotten my money's worth with the 802's. I've had over 12 pairs of 802's through the years. At one time I was stacking 4 802's on each side to improve bass. But when the 302's and the 802 c controller came along, i could truly biamp and create a really glorious system. i have bought several pairs through the years, normally buy them for abojut $600 a pair used, keep them for several years and then sell them for about $600 a pair. What other speakers can you say that about?
I must say I've tried other Bose speakers, 501's, 401's and some old 101's for monitors, but they were all disapointing. The 901's are basically backward pointing 802's, they do a pretty go job.. As far as the Bose haters out there, let them hate! They've probably got nothing else. They certainly don't have good sound.

Strengths:
S O U N D Q U A L I T Y portability, reliability, durability, easy to store in transit. can be stacked two high, or can be spread, 2 pair on 4 stands, to encircle or better service a larger outside area. maintain resale value, the best in that regard

Weaknesses:
high priced new. hard on amps. sound can get scratchy if you don't maintain your speaker cords. they seem to worry a dead spot on the male connectors of your 1/4 " jacks.

Similar Products Used:
JVC, Bag End, Kustom, Yamaha, and (yuck) Peavey


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